Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination
  against Women 

12 February 2015

BACKGROUND RELEASE

Committee to Consider Situation in Gabon, Azerbaijan, Ecuador, Tuvalu, Denmark, Kyrgyzstan, Eritrea and Maldives

The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women will hold its sixtieth session at the Palais des Nations in Geneva from 16 February to 6 March during which it will review reports presented by Gabon, Azerbaijan, Ecuador, Tuvalu, Denmark, Kyrgyzstan, Eritrea and Maldives on how they implement the provisions of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. 

States parties to the Convention commit themselves to ending all forms of discrimination against women in the political, economic, social, cultural, civil or other fields.  The Committee, a 23-person expert body, monitors compliance with the Convention.  It assesses to what extent each State party is meeting its obligations, and makes recommendations for the implementation of the Convention.

At the opening meeting on Monday, 16 February, the Committee will be addressed by a representative of the Secretary-General and adopt its agenda.  The Committee will then elect a new Chairperson and Bureau.

In addition to considering the reports of eight States parties, the Committee will hold public informal meetings with non-governmental organizations and national human rights institutions to discuss the situation in the countries whose reports will be considered.  It will also consider individual complaints as well as inquiries under the Optional Protocol to the Convention, in closed meeting.  The Committee will discuss matters relating to general recommendations and its methods of work. 

Gabon is presenting its sixth periodic report CEDAW/C/GAB/6.  The Committee’s concluding observations and recommendations on the combined second to fifth periodic reports, considered in July 2005, can be found in A/60/38 (SUPP) paras.220-255.

Azerbaijan is presenting its fifth periodic report CEDAW/C/AZE/5.  The Committee’s concluding observations and recommendations on the fourth periodic report, considered in July 2009, can be found in CEDAW/C/AZE/CO/4.

Ecuador is presenting its combined eighth and ninth periodic reports CEDAW/C/ECU/8-9.  The Committee’s concluding observations and recommendations on the combined sixth and seventh periodic reports, considered in October 2008, can be found in CEDAW/C/ECU/CO/7.

Tuvalu is presenting its combined third and fourth periodic reports CEDAW/C/TUV/3-4.  The Committee’s concluding observations and recommendations on the combined initial and second periodic reports of Tuvalu, considered in July 2009, can be found in CEDAW/C/TUV/CO/2.

Denmark is presenting its eighth periodic report CEDAW/C/DNK/8.  The Committee’s concluding observations and recommendations on the seventh periodic report, considered in July 2009, can be found in CEDAW/C/DEN/CO/7.

Kyrgyzstan is presenting its fourth periodic report CEDAW/C/KGZ/4.  The Committee’s concluding observations and recommendations on the third periodic report, considered in October 2008, can be found in CEDAW/C/KGZ/CO/3.

Eritrea is presenting its combined fourth and fifth periodic reports CEDAW/C/ERI/4 and CEDAW/C/ERI/5.  The Committee’s concluding observations and recommendations on the combined initial to third periodic reports, considered in January 2006, can be found in CEDAW/C/ERI/CO/3.

Maldives is presenting its combined fourth and fifth periodic reports CEDAW/C/MDV/4-5.  The Committee’s concluding observations and recommendations on the combined second and third periodic reports, considered in January 2007, can be found in CEDAW/C/MDV/CO/3.

The reports that the Committee will review during the session as well as other documentation can be found on the webpage of the Committee. 

Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women

The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 18 December 1979, and entered into force on 3 September 1981.  Often described as an international bill of rights for women, the Convention both defines discrimination against women and sets an agenda for national action to end such discrimination.  Since its entry into force, the Convention has achieved near-universal acceptance, with 188 States parties.

The Convention defines discrimination against women as "... any distinction, exclusion or restriction made on the basis of sex which has the effect or purpose of impairing or nullifying the recognition, enjoyment or exercise by women, irrespective of their marital status, on a basis of equality of men and women, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural, civil or any other field".

By accepting the Convention, States parties commit themselves to undertake a series of measures to end discrimination against women in all forms, including: incorporating the principle of equality of men and women in their legal system; abolishing all discriminatory laws and adopting appropriate ones prohibiting discrimination against women; establishing public institutions to ensure the effective protection of women against discrimination; and ensuring elimination of all acts of discrimination against women by persons, organizations or enterprises.

Optional Protocol to the Convention

On 22 December 2000, the Optional Protocol to the Convention entered into force, by which States parties recognize the competence of the Committee to receive and consider communications submitted by individuals or groups of individuals claiming to be victims of a violation of their rights under the Convention.

To date, 105 of the Convention's 188 States parties have accepted the Optional Protocol.  Before the Committee considers a complaint, it first must establish its admissibility under the terms of the Optional Protocol.  The Optional Protocol also enables the Committee, upon the fulfilment of certain criteria, to undertake inquiries into possible grave or systematic violations of women's rights. 

Membership

The Committee is made up of 23 experts of high moral standing and recognized competence in the field of women's rights.  Members are nominated and elected by the States parties and serve in their personal capacity.

The Committee Members are: Ayse Feride Acar (Turkey); Gladys Acosta Vargas (Peru): Bakhita Al-Dosari (Qatar); Nicole Ameline (France); Magalys Arocha Dominguez (Cuba);  Barbara Evelyn Bailey (Jamaica); Niklas Bruun (Finland); Louiza Chalal (Algeria); Naela Mohamed Gabr (Egypt); Hilary Gbedemah (Ghana); Nahla Haidar (Lebanon);  Ruth Halperin-Kaddari (Israel); Yoko Hayashi (Japan); Lilian Hofmeister (Austria); Ismat Jahan (Bangladesh); Dalia Leinarte (Lithuania); Lia Nadaraia (Georgia); Theodora Oby Nwankwo (Nigeria); Pramila Patten (Mauritius); Silvia Pimentel (Brazil); Biancamaria Pomeranzi (Italy); Patricia Schulz (Switzerland); and Xiaoqiao Zou (China).

Proposed Programme of Work

Monday, 16 February

10 a.m.         Opening of session, adoption of agenda, organization of work, report of the Chair on activities undertaken, ways and means of expediting the work of the Committee

3 p.m.           Informal meeting with non-governmental organizations

4:30 p.m.      Informal meeting with national human rights institutions

Tuesday, 17 February  

10 a.m.         Sixth periodic report of Gabon CEDAW/C/GAB/6

3 p.m.            Gabon (continued)
         
Wednesday, 18 February
         
10 a.m.         Fifth periodic report of Azerbaijan CEDAW/C/AZE/5

3 p.m.           Azerbaijan (continued)

Thursday, 19 February

10 a.m.         Combined eighth and ninth periodic reports of Ecuador CEDAW/C/ECU/8-9

3 p.m.           Ecuador (continued)

Friday, 20 February
         
10 a.m.         Combined third and fourth periodic reports of Tuvalu CEDAW/C/TUV/3-4

3 p.m.           Tuvalu (continued)

Monday, 23 February
 
10 a.m.         Closed meeting

3 p.m.           Informal meeting with United Nations bodies and specialized agencies

4 p.m.           Informal meeting with non-governmental organizations

5 p.m.           Informal meeting with national human rights institutions

Tuesday, 24 February

10 a.m.         Eighth periodic report of Denmark CEDAW/C/DNK/8

3 p.m.           Denmark (continued)

Wednesday, 25 February
 
10 a.m.         Fourth periodic report of Kyrgyzstan CEDAW/C/KGZ/4

3 p.m.           Kyrgyzstan (continued)

Thursday, 26 February

10 a.m.         Fourth and fifth periodic reports of Eritrea CEDAW/C/ERI/4 and CEDAW/C/ERI/5

3 p.m.           Eritrea (continued)

Friday, 27 February

10 a.m.         Combined fourth and fifth Periodic Reports of Maldives CEDAW/C/MDV/4-5

3 p.m.           Maldives (continued)

Friday, 6 March

10 a.m.         Closed Meeting

4 p.m.           Public closing of the session

 __________

For use of the information media; not an official record

Follow UNIS Geneva on: Website | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube |Flickr